Mechanical movement

ABSTRACT

A mechanical movement having a driven body and a driving body set at angles to each other. The driven body provided with teeth about its periphery and the driving body with a circular edge adapted to enter between the teeth and means for its rotation about a central axis. The edge being normally circular but having a separable end adapted to be flexed to either side of the plane of the circle. Means are provided to flex the separable edge during rotation of the driving body.

[ Aug. 14, 1973 221 Filed:

[ 4] MECHANICAL MOVEMENT [76] Inventor: Charles Block, 1129 Albert Rd.,

North Bellmore, NY. 1 1710 Jan. 10, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 216,697

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,611,630 12/1926 Burke74/750 R 2/1912 Bultman 2/1917 Hill 10/1958 Natalis 74/84 X 11/1959Flatt 74/426 Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Attomey-Bauer & AmerABSTRACT A mechanical movement having a driven body and a driving bodyset at angles to each other. The driven body provided with teeth aboutits periphery and the driving body with a circular edge adapted to enterbetween the teeth and means for its rotation about a central axis. Theedge being normally circular but having a separable end adapted to beflexed to either side of the plane of the circle. Means are provided toflex the separable edge during rotation of the driving body.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 J Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,002

3 Sheets-Sheet z Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

FIG.8

POSITION s OLENOID so s2 64 as LEFT ON ON NEUTRAL I ON ON 2 ON ON 3 OFFOFF OFF OFF RIGHT ON ON 74 l2 58) L- ;T L I 76a W- POSITION P o R T 84as as LEFT I o 0 Low NEUTRAL 2 HIGH 0 Low RIGHT 3 0 HIGH LOW MECHANICALMOVEMENT BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE The present invention relates toapparatus for transmitting motion between mechanical elements and inparticular to apparatus for converting rotary motion about one axis intointermittent or indexed rotary motion about a second axis at an anglethereto.

Various mechanical devices are known for converting rotary motion in themanner desired. Hypoid gear systems, worm gear systems, circular racksand pinions and scroll gears are but a few such devices. These devices,however, have certain disadvantages arising mainly from the fixedrelationship between one element and other so that non-variabletransmission ratios and speed are only obtained and reversible outputaction, while maintaining unidirectional input, is impossible. Theadvent of miniaturization of mechanical com ponents requires theconstruction of small versatile multiduty devices of this nature, whichalso define a stepping characteristic in which the output rotation canbe controlled and defined with regard to the input rotation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for the conversion of rotary motion into essentially rotarymotion about a second axis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe type described in which reversible output rotation is obtainedalthough the input rotation is maintained in one direction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved butsimple stepping motor.

These objects, as well as others, together with numerous advantages willbe seen from the following disclosure of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ble from it and adapted to be flexed out of thecircular plane. The driving body is rotatable about a fixed axis andmeans are provided for shifting the separable portion while the drivingbody continues its rotation. Preferably, the driven body is in thenature of a spur gear and the driving body is a disk, having a portionseparable along the periphery to define a tongue having a free leadingedge.

In the preferred embodiment, the disk is mounted on a hollow shaft whichis rotated about its central axis. A bracket is slidably located overthe shaft and is connected to the free end of the tongue. A rod extendswithin the shaft and connecting means, such as a screw threaded into thebracket, extends through an axial slot in the shaft and into an annularslot in the rod. Thus, the bracket may be conjointly rotated with theshaft and disk while axially shifted by the rod.

The rod is automatically operated by electromagnetic, mechanical orfluid actuators arranged to incrementally shift the rod to flex thetongue either to the right or left of the plane of the disk, thusreversing the direction of rotation of the driven spur gear even thoughthe input drive is unidirectional while zero deflection of the tonguewill not produce any motion.

Full details of the present invention are set forth in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 showing the interior of thedevice;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the driving and driven bodies;

FIG. 4 is a side view enlarged of the driving body;

FIGS. 5a to 5c are sequential views showing schematically the operationof the device;

FIG. 6 is tabulation of the actuation program;

FIG. 7 is a view of fluid actuator for use with the present invention;and

FIG. 8 is a tabulation of the operations program for the fluid actuatorof FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Turning to FIGS. 1-4, the mechanical movementis seen contained in a housing 10 having a semi-circular cross-sectionsealed to a base 12 capable of resting on or being bolted to a fixedsupport, not shown. The movement comprises a driven body 14 having thegeneral appearance of a wheel or spur gear in which a plurality of teeth16 are arranged uniformly about its periphery. The teeth 16 need notextend completely about the body 14, although such an arrangement is tobe preferred. The driven body 14 is keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft18 suitably journaled with the housing 10 on bearing blocks, sealedhearings or other suitable means, so as to be freely rotatablethereabout in reversible directions indicated by arrows A or B.

A driving body 20 having a substantial circular peripheral edge 22 islocated adjacent the driven body 14 so that the edge 22 enters betweenand slidingly engages adjacent fianks of teeth 16. The circular periph-'eral edge 20 is split as at 24 and is further separable, at least inpart, from the main portion of the driving body 20 to form a curvedcantilevered portion or tongue 26 having a leading end 28 and afollowing end connected to the driving body 20 itself. Acurved slot 30separates the tongue 26 from the body 20 making it more or lesscantilevered therefrom. The tongue 26 is capable of being flexed out ofthe plane of the circle normally forming the peripheral edge 22. Whenflexed, as seen in FIG. 3, to either side of the plane, the outer edge22 forms a spiral curve about the center 0 of the body 20. The drivingbody 20 is also keyed or fastened as at 32 (FIG. 2) to a hollow driveshaft 34 suitably journaled in sealed bearings 36 in housing 10. Theshaft 34 is set at an angle (preferably at a right angle) to the axis ofthe shaft 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the driving body 20 is simply a flat diskhaving a cut out portion forming the tongue 26. However, a disk is notessential so long as the body is formed with a generally circularperipheral split edge, one end of which being capable of flexure out ofthe plane of the circle allowing the edge 22 to take on a spiral or hoopconfiguration.

The driving body 20 is located in a spool 38 having an H-shapedcross-section, the radially interior section of which surrounds the key32 preventing the driving body 20 from being moved axially of the driveshaft 34.

The radially exterior section of the spool straddles the peripheral edge22 leaving it free to flex. A plurality of screws 40 secure the spool 38to the driving body 2@ for conjoint rotation. Straddling the H-shapedspool 38 are a pair of L-shaped annular flanges connected together toform a bracket 42 by a cross piece member 44 fas' tened by screws 46 tothe transverse legs 4?; of the flanges. The bracket is shiftable axiallywith respect to the drive shaft 34 by being loosely fit over it, and thecross piece 44 passes through a conforming slot in the H-shaped spool.The cross piece extends in proximity to the peripheral edge 22 of thedriving body 2@ and is fixedly secured at its center to the leading edge28 of the tongue by a fastening member 49. The brackets have screws 50fastened through their axial legs 52 which screws extend through anaxial slot 54 in the hollow drive shaft 34 and thread at 56 into a solidrotatable actuating rod 58 slidable within the shaft 34. The axialextent of the slot 54 permits relatively long axial movement of thescrew 50 therein while the radial dimension of the slot 54 is, however,only sufficient to receive the screw 50. Thus, axial movement of theactuating rod 58 will cause the flanges 42 to shift axially with respectto the drive shaft 34 while rotation of the drive shaft 34 will causeconjoint rotation of the brackets 42 and rod 58.

It will then be obvious that rotation of drive shaft 34 will causeconjoint rotation not only of the driving body 20, but the H-shape spool38 and the connected brackets 42, while axial reciprocation of theactuating rod 53 within the shaft 34 will cause the brackets 42 to shiftto the right or left as indicated by arrows R and L in FIGS 2 and 3,causing the tongue 26 to flex as indicated in FIG. 3 to either side ofthe neutral position defined by the plane of the circular edge.

While the means for sliftably adjusting the actuating rod 58 may bechosen from any suitably known electrical, electro-magnetic,electro-mechanical, mechanical or fluid system, it is preferred that thesystem provide certain basic advantages. For example, the system shouldprovide a neutral position when not activated so that the rotary motionis not transmitted from one body to the other; it should provide stablequick and fixedly incremental positioning so that the direction andspeed of motion are accurate and it should not interfere with the rotaryoperation of the drive shaft 34. Such a device is exemplified in FIG. 2as comprising four solenoid ac tuators 60, 62, 64 and 66 each having aspringless plunger 60a, 62a, 64a, 66a. The solenoid actuators arearranged in spaced pairs in a rectangular array and a yoke-shaped leverbar 68 is linked at its ends to each pair and bearingly connected at 70to the actuating rod 58 to enable the rod to rotate. The diagonal centerof the rectangular array of solenoids is chosen so as to lie on the axisof the actuating rod 58 and the solenoids are symmetrically spaced aboutit. The length of the actuating rod 58 is also such that when the linkbetween lever bar 68 and rod 58 (i.e., center 70) lies at the diagonalcenter, then the body R4 is in neutral position with the tongue 26 lyingwithin the plane of the driving body 20.

The solenoids are linked to suitable signal or pulse circuits, switchesor other conventional means for their selective actuation. Byselectively actuating respective pairs of the solenoids, as seen inFIGS. 50 to c, the ac tuating rod 58 may be incrementally shifted right,left or maintained in neutral position. The solenoids are initiallywired so that diagonally opposite pairs are nor mally placed inactuation or out of action. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5b (solidlines) solenoids 62 and 64 are activated and their plunger 62a and 64aretracted therein. The link rod 68 extends diagonally between thesolenoids; however, because of the symmetry of the array, the centralfulcrum 76 remains at the diagonal center of the rectangularconfiguration. Thus, the link bar 6% remains in neutral position.Reversal of actuation of the other solenoids 6t), 66, results only inthe reversal of the diagonal position of the lever bar 68 but leaves thefulcrum center at the diagonal center of the array, leaving the drivingbody 2t) in neutral position. In either position, it is necessary todeactivate only one solenoid and activate another solenoid to quicklyobtain shifting of the rod 58. As seen in FIG. 5a, activation of bothsolenoid 62 and 66 pulls the link to the rigth shifting the actuatingrod correspondingly, while as seen in FIG. 5c, the activation ofsolenoids 60 and 64 pulls the lever bar to the left shifting theactuating rod 58 in that direction. Shifting of the actuating rod 58 tothe rigth or left causes the bracket 42 to shift the tongue 26accordingly. Hence, when drive shaft 34 is being rotated in thedirection of arrow D, it drives the driven body l4 and shaft 28 andcreates a worm action on the teeth of the driven body causing it, too,to rotate in either direction A or B.

When all the solenoids are deactivated, lever bar 68 is returned to thevertical position coincident with the diagonal center (i.e., in theneutral position). This occurs because of the normal resilient springloading of the deflected tongue 26 desires to resume its planar positionwhen it is no longer restrained by the lever 68. As the tongue 26returns to the central neutral position, it shifts the bracket 32 which,in turn, shifts the actuating rod 58, carrying the lever bar 655.Schematically the program for activating the respective solenoids toeffeet the various positions of the actuating rod 58 is tabulated inFIG. 6.

It will be obvious that by changing the effective length of slot 39 in22, the pitch angle or spiral curve of the flexed tongue 26 will bevaried to ultimately produce varying speeds and duration of rotation inthe driven body 14. This variation may also be controlled to some degreeby selecting the type of spring material and thickness of 22.

The electrically operable solenoids may be replaced with fluid actuationsystems exerting a similar push-pull effect on a lever bar such as bard8. A preferred form of hydraulic system is, however, shown in FIG. 7.Here a double cylinder, double piston with an in-line piston rod linkeddirectly to the actuating rod 58 is shown. The unit comprises a firstcylinder 72 and a second cylinder 74. Piston rods 76 and 76a extendthrough each, linked at the end 78 to the actuating rod 58. A piston 80and 82 respectively, are located on the piston rods 76 and 76a withineach cylinder 72 and 74. An inletoutlet port 84 and vent 85 is locatedat the left end of cylinder 72 while inlet-outlet ports 86 and 88 arelocated at each of the ends of cylinder 74. To move the actuating rod523 to the left, fluid under low pressure is admitted through port $8and venting discharge is allowed through valved ports $4 and 86. Toplace the actuating rod in neutral position, fluid is admitted underhigh pressure in port 84 and under somewhat lower pressure through port228, to balance the rod in the center because rod 76 pushes againstpiston 82 until the end of the stroke of rod 76. To move the actuatingrod 58 to the right, high pressure fluid is admitted through port 86overcoming the low pressure fluid entering through port 88. The variousparameters are tabulated in FIG. 8. in this system, a source of fluidunder pressure (an accumulator pump, etc.) is provided, as are suitablevalves (manual, solenoid operated, etc.) and control means therefor.

To insure that the shifting of the actuating rod 58 occurs so that thetongue 26 will not flex while it is between the teeth 16 of the body 14,one or a pair of rotary cams 90 and 92 are secured about the shaft 34.The cam 90 is an off-cam while cam 92 is an on-cam. Each cam ridesrespectively, on a follower arm of 94 and 96 of microswitches 98, 100which are connected to the control system for the solenoid or valveactuators. The cams are so profiled that the solenoids, for example, maybe operated only when the tongue 26 is not between the teeth 16, thatis, the solenoids may be operated only when the solid, no flexing,portion of body 20 is between the teeth. Thus, breakage of teeth 16 ortongue 26 is obviated. To further insure proper working, the sealedhousing is provided with a reserve of lubricating oil 102 of a depthsufficient to wet the periphery of the body 211. Thus, as the body 20rotates, lubricating oil is carried to the teeth 16. A removable stop orplug 104 seated within a hole 106 is used to supply and drain thelubricant.

Lastly, the hollow shaft 34 is provided with means for its rotation,which comprises, in the embodiment shown, a pulley 108 secured by ascrew 110. A belt, chain or other transmission means connects the pulleyto a motor, mechanical pulse generator or similar motive power producer.

In operation, the input drive shaft 34 is rotated unidirectionally bythe motive means (not shown( causing conjoint rotation of the body 20.Depending on the direction of rotation desired for the driven body 141,the rod 58 is shifted to the right or left, as seen in FIGS. 50-50. Itwill be noted that the direction of movement of the driven body isreversed only by the axial shifting of the actuating rod 58 and not byreversal of the input rotational direction which remains the same. Theinput rotational direction, preferably is counterclockwise, as seen inFIG. 2, so that the leading edge 28 of the tongue 26 leads into theteeth 16. Thus, the axial shifting of the tongue in the right or leftdeflection out of the plane should be in increments of the teeth pitch.Under most instances, a single step pitch deflection allowing theleading edge of the tongue to enter the next succeeding or adjacenttooth space, is preferable. This gives a one to one ratio between therotation of body 20 and each tooth. On the other hand, a widerdeflection of the tongue can produce a larger ratio. Consequently, thespeed of rotation of the driven body can be varied without variance ofthe input speed. Another means by which the speed may be varied ispossible by varying the length of the tongue 26. This is accomplished byvarying the length of the slot 30 between it and the remainder of thebody. The longer the tongue 26, the less is its pitch producing agreater period or duration of the driven body 14. From the foregoing, itwill be apparent that the mechanical movement can be easily used as astepping motor, since each time the leading edge 28 engages the teeth16, a predefined step is taken.

To be at optimum effectiveness, the drive shaft 341 and the driven shaft18.must be at relatively large angles to each other. Right orrelationship is preferred although significantly lower angles may alsowork, even though such lesser angles will affect the pitch and durationof the rotation of the driven body.

It will be observed that the present invention provides the advantagesand satisfies the earlier mentioned objects. A simple mechanicalconverter of rotary to rotary motion is obtained wherein the output maybe reversed without requiring reversal of the input direction, pitch andduration may be readily controlled and varied, a stepping motor effectcan be obtained. Various modifications and changes have been suggested.Others will be obvious tothose skilled in this art. Accordingly,

the present disclosure is to be taken as illustrative only and notlimiting of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical movement comprising a first body having a plurality ofteeth arranged about its periphery and adapted to rotate about itscentral axis, a second body having a split circular peripheral edgeadapted to slidingly engage between adjacent teeth of said first body,said second body being rotatable about a central axis offset from theaxis of said first body and having one end of its peripheral edge freeand capable of flexing out of the plane of the circle to form asubstantially continuous spiral, means connected with said second bodyfor flexing said free end, and means for rotating said second bodythereby causing said first body to rotate in response to the extent saidfree end isflexed out of the plane of the circle.

2. A mechanical movement according to claim 1, including-means forretaining the free end of said peripheral edge in selected fixedposition whereby said portion may be flexed relative distances from theplane of the circle.

3. The movement according to claim 2, wherein the first body comprises aspur gear and said second body comprises a planar disk having aperipherally directed tongue portion in part separable therefrom to formsaid free end.

i. The mechanical movvement according to claim 3, wherein said disk ismounted on a drive shaft rotatable about its central axis and isstraddled by an annular bracket axially slidable on said shaft andjointly rotatable therewith, the free end of said peripheral edge beingsecured to said bracket and means for shifting said bracket axially ofsaid shaft to flex said tongue.

5. The mechanical movement according to claim 4, wherein said shaft ishollow and the means for shifting said bracket comprises a rod slidablelocated in said shaft,'said shaft having an axial slot, said rod havingan annular slot and said bracket having a fastener extending throughsaid axial slot into said annular slot whereby said rod may cause axialshifting of said bracket simultaneously with said shaft causing rotationthereof.

6. The mechanical movement according to claim 5, including means forautomatically shifting said actuating rod in incremental steps along theaxis of said drive shaft to selective positions wherein said bracket iscaused to flex the free end of the tongue to either side of the plane ofsaid disk.

7. The mechanical movement according to claim 6, wherein said means forshifting said actuating rod comprises at least one remotely operablesolenoid.

The mechanical movement according to claim 7, wherein said means forautomatically shifting said rod comprises four solenoids arranged in arectangular array in opposed pairs, a lever connecting the plungers ofthe opposed pairs, said lever being linked to said actuating rod wherebyon selective actuation of said solenoids said actuating rod is caused toshift.

9. The mechanical movement according to claim 7, wherein said means forshifting said actuating rod comprises a fluid operable piston andcylinder, said piston being operable to incrementally position saidactuating rod along the axis of said drive shaft.

10. The mechanical movement according to claim 1, including a sealedhousing, a reserve of lubricant within said housing, said second bodyadapted to contact said lubricant and carry the same to said first body.

11. A mechanical movement comprising a circular driven body and adriving body set at angles to each other, said driven body having aplurality of uniformly spaced teeth about its periphery, said drivingbody having a generally circular edge adapted to engage between saidteeth, said edge having a flexible portion adapted to be deflected fromthe plane of the circle to form a curve thereof, means for rotating saiddriving body about the axis of said circle, and means connected with andselectively operable for deflecting said edge to thereby cause saiddriven body to rotate in response to the extent of deflection of saidflexible portion.

12. A mechanical movement according to claim 11, wherein said driven anddriving bodies are set at right angle to each other, said driving bodybeing substantially planar, and said flexible edge is deflected into aspiral out of the plane of said driving body.

13. A mechanical movement according to claim 12, including means forselectively maintaining said flexible edge in a fixed position in theplane of said driving body or deflected to either side of the plane ofthe circle during rotation of said driving body.

1. A mechanical movement comprising a first body having a plurality ofteeth arranged about its periphery and adapted to rotate about itscentral axis, a second body having a split circular peripheral edgeadapted to slidingly engage between adjacent teeth of said first body,said second body being rotatable about a central axis offset from theaxis of said first body and having one end of its peripheral edge freeand capable of flexing out of the plane of the circle to form asubstantially continuous spiral, means connected with said second bodyfor flexing said free end, and means for rotating said second bodythereby causing said first body to rotate in response to the extent saidfree end is flexed out of the plane of thE circle.
 2. A mechanicalmovement according to claim 1, including means for retaining the freeend of said peripheral edge in selected fixed position whereby saidportion may be flexed relative distances from the plane of the circle.3. The movement according to claim 2, wherein the first body comprises aspur gear and said second body comprises a planar disk having aperipherally directed tongue portion in part separable therefrom to formsaid free end.
 4. The mechanical movvement according to claim 3, whereinsaid disk is mounted on a drive shaft rotatable about its central axisand is straddled by an annular bracket axially slidable on said shaftand jointly rotatable therewith, the free end of said peripheral edgebeing secured to said bracket and means for shifting said bracketaxially of said shaft to flex said tongue.
 5. The mechanical movementaccording to claim 4, wherein said shaft is hollow and the means forshifting said bracket comprises a rod slidable located in said shaft,said shaft having an axial slot, said rod having an annular slot andsaid bracket having a fastener extending through said axial slot intosaid annular slot whereby said rod may cause axial shifting of saidbracket simultaneously with said shaft causing rotation thereof.
 6. Themechanical movement according to claim 5, including means forautomatically shifting said actuating rod in incremental steps along theaxis of said drive shaft to selective positions wherein said bracket iscaused to flex the free end of the tongue to either side of the plane ofsaid disk.
 7. The mechanical movement according to claim 6, wherein saidmeans for shifting said actuating rod comprises at least one remotelyoperable solenoid.
 8. The mechanical movement according to claim 7,wherein said means for automatically shifting said rod comprises foursolenoids arranged in a rectangular array in opposed pairs, a leverconnecting the plungers of the opposed pairs, said lever being linked tosaid actuating rod whereby on selective actuation of said solenoids saidactuating rod is caused to shift.
 9. The mechanical movement accordingto claim 7, wherein said means for shifting said actuating rod comprisesa fluid operable piston and cylinder, said piston being operable toincrementally position said actuating rod along the axis of said driveshaft.
 10. The mechanical movement according to claim 1, including asealed housing, a reserve of lubricant within said housing, said secondbody adapted to contact said lubricant and carry the same to said firstbody.
 11. A mechanical movement comprising a circular driven body and adriving body set at angles to each other, said driven body having aplurality of uniformly spaced teeth about its periphery, said drivingbody having a generally circular edge adapted to engage between saidteeth, said edge having a flexible portion adapted to be deflected fromthe plane of the circle to form a curve thereof, means for rotating saiddriving body about the axis of said circle, and means connected with andselectively operable for deflecting said edge to thereby cause saiddriven body to rotate in response to the extent of deflection of saidflexible portion.
 12. A mechanical movement according to claim 11,wherein said driven and driving bodies are set at right angle to eachother, said driving body being substantially planar, and said flexibleedge is deflected into a spiral out of the plane of said driving body.13. A mechanical movement according to claim 12, including means forselectively maintaining said flexible edge in a fixed position in theplane of said driving body or deflected to either side of the plane ofthe circle during rotation of said driving body.